More on PNoy cozying up with China

To dishonor a human-rights victim like Liu Xiaobo, then, is to break forcefully away from our traditions. Experts at the DFA or advisers in Malacañang might think this was only realpolitik, but in fact it was realpolitik that damaged the country’s own standing in the international community. (And it was realpolitik done less than competently; why did the DFA and the Palace wait until news reports identified the Philippines as one of those aligned with China’s irresponsible boycott of the ceremony before issuing clarificatory statements?)

One thing is clear. Like other countries who decided to boycott the ceremony, the Philippines had something in common with Liu Xiaobo: We were held hostage by an emerging superpower increasingly impatient with the usual niceties. But at least the absent prizewinner won his status out of conviction. We fell into ours out of convenience.

Cocoy Dayao

Cocoy is the Chief Technology Officer of Lab Rats Technica, a Digital Consulting company that specialises in DevOps, iOS, and Web Apps, E-Commerce sites, Cybersecurity and Social Media consulting. He is a technology enthusiast, political junkie and social observer who enjoys a good cup of coffee, comic books, and tweets as @cocoy on twitter.

The ProPinoy Project

The ProPinoy Project is a Global Community Center for all things Pinoy, to connect Filipinos at home and abroad by creating a space for ideas, trends and analyses about the Philippines and the global Pinoy community to inspire informed discussion and transformative action.

The ProPinoy Project is a Global Community Center for all things Pinoy, to connect Filipinos at home and abroad by creating a space for ideas, trends and analyses about the Philippines and the global Pinoy community to inspire informed discussion and transformative action.